248 
WOLF. 
testify their hostile intentions bj their loud howl- 
ings, and, by their fierceness, discover a project 
for attacking some great animal, such as a stag 
or a bull, or to destroy some more redoubtable 
w atch-dog. The instant their military expedition 
is completed, their society is at an end ; they then 
part, and each returns in silence to his solitary 
retreat. There is not even any strong attachments 
between the male and female ; they seek each 
other only once a year, and remain but a few days 
together ; they always couple in winter ; at which 
time several males are seen following one female, 
and this association is still more bloody than the 
former ; they dispute most cruelly, growl, bark, 
fight, and tear each other ; and it sometimes hap- 
pens, that the majority kill the wolf, which has 
been chiefly preferred by the female. It is usual 
for the she- wo If to fly from them all with him she 
has chosen ; and watches this opportunity when 
the rest are asleep. 
The time of pregnancy is about three months 
and a half ; and the young wolves are found from 
the latter end of April, to the beginning of July. 
When the she-wolves are near their time to 
bring forth, they seek some very tufted spot, in 
the thickest part of the forests ; in the middle 
<of this they make a small opening, cutting away 
the thorns and briars with their teeth, and after- 
wards carry thither a great quantity of moss, 
w hich they form into a bed for their young ones. 
They generally bring forth five or six, and some- 
times even to nine at a litter. The cubs are 
brought forth, like those of the bitch, with the 
eyes closed ; the dam suckles them for some weeks, 
and teaches them betimes to eat flesh, which she 
prepares for them, by chewing it first herself. 
Some time after she brings them stronger food, 
bares, partridges, and birds yet alive* Theyoung 
